Posts under ‘Genetics’

The Feel-Good Gene by Richard A. Friedman, The New York Times, March 6, 2015 Some people have more of the anandamide ( a naturally occurring cannabinoid) molecule in the brain than others. When it binds to the cannabinoid receptor, it has a calming effect. People who have less anandamide are more likely to be anxious […]

How Exercise Changes Our DNA by Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times, December 17, 2014 In a study in the journal Epigenetics, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found that the cells in the muscles of the legs of volunteers, who exercised only one leg, showed changes in DNA. According to the study, […]

Who Falls to Addiction, and Who Is Unscathed? By RICHARD A. FRIEDMAN, M.D. New York Times August 1, 2011 Genes, environment and psychology affect who uses drugs uneventfully and who is undone by them. …Scientists do know that having a mental illness doesn’t just increase the chance of intermittent drug abuse; it also significantly raises […]

Genes as Mirrors of Life Experiences by Benedict Carey, NY Times, November 8, 2010 For decades, researchers have ransacked the genetic pedigrees of people with mental illness, looking for common variations that combine to cause devastating conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The search has stalled badly; while these disorders may involve genetic disruptions, no […]